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Procedure for media enquiries

Media enquiries should be directed to the press officer on 023 8120 8756 or media@uhs.nhs.uk

We welcome enquiries from members of the print, broadcast and online media and will make every effort to answer questions promptly. The press officer should be your first point of contact and all other staff have been advised to refer any approaches from members of the media to this number.

Requests for interviews

Under no circumstances may interviews, filming or photography be carried out on or around Trust sites without the prior permission of the communications team. Please contact us if you would like to arrange an interview.

Condition checks

We will only enquire about the condition of a patient if we are provided with the full name and date of birth of the individual concerned. Please do not contact us for a condition check if you don't have this information. To request a condition check call us on 023 8120 8756.

We place great emphasis on the need for the strictest confidentiality in respect of our patients. We will not divulge any information about a patient unless we are given permission from the individual or their next of kin.

If you wish to request a condition check outside normal working hours (9am to 5pm Monday to Friday), please telephone our switchboard on 023 8077 7222 and ask to speak to the duty manager.

Patient confidentiality

We place great emphasis on the need for the strictest confidentiality in respect of our patients. We will not divulge any information about a patient unless we are given permission from the individual or their next of kin. All requests for interviewing or photographing patients must be made through the communications team.

Major incidents

Should a major incident occur, our contingency plan includes arrangements for the media. A press centre will be established at Southampton General Hospital, close to the emergency department. This will be set up for press conferences and will be equipped with working space. You will be given regular updates on the situation and the opportunity for interviews. Depending on the type of incident, we will decide at the time on the best vantage point for photographs and filming.